Are clothes becoming larger?

[Julie M.]

By coming out of hibernation I have unleashed a monster.....shopper that is. The past two weeks I have purchased 2 tops, two skirts, one pair of slacks and one formal halter dress. The last time I bought clothes was quite a while ago but I always purchased size 10 for skirts and slacks, 14 for tops and dresses would usually be size 12.

Well last week I bought skirt, pants and top at a local department store. When I got home to try them on I was hoping they'd fit (I was worried about them being too small). When I slipped into the slacks I was almost swimming in them. I figured they are elastic banded and are probably supposed to be somewhat loose. The elastic band barely stretched though.

Then I tried on the skirt. It had no stretch in the waist. When I clipped it together at the side I was again surprised when I found this too to be loose.

So yesterday I went shopping again after my workout. It's the best time to go because I just put the clothes in my gym bag in case my son is home when I get there. So as I was browsing I saw a black skirt (yes, I love black) that I really liked but it was a size 8. I held it up to me and thought about the last skirt I purchased. There was no give in the waist but I figured I could always bring it back if it was too small. Then I saw this really pretty black long-sleeved silk blouse. All of my shopping trips had started out with this item I was holding in my hands as the objective. I checked the size and it said "M". I looked at how it sat on the hanger and figured it would be close. So I bought both as well as some open toe pumps, scarf and belt to complete the outfit.

Today I tried on the skirt and blouse and prayed they would fit . I really liked the clothes and didn't want to go out searching again. Guess what? They fit perfect! I'm now a size 8 on bottom and 12 on top? None of these clothes were purchased at high-end department stores where I know they "cheat" on the sizes.

Also, the pumps I bought were a size 9. If I can find wide shoes I can fit into an 8-1/2 but wide shoes are rare. Even with the extra 1/2 size I find the width to be a little narrow but a 9-1/2 doesn't fit because of the length. So when I put on the pumps today I just slipped into them! In fact when I walk my heel tends to come out a bit. Are shoes wider than they were years ago?

Has anyone else seen a difference over the years?

[Loretta Ann]

Hi Julie.

I never have been able to figure that out, I have some clothes that are labeled SP that fit like a glove. I am far from small petite as some have suggested that's what SP stands for. Most large sized clothes fit me, but I have found some that are to tight. Go figure?

[Virginia]

Don't know if this article will help you young lady?!, but I posted this info that I got from the May issue of Glamour. In 1991, women in their 20's weighted, on average 142 pounds - now its 155. Those in their 30's averaged 154 and now 167. My point being that GG's are getting bigger and as I heard on the John Boy and Billy Show this morning (Don't even ask!!!) that women's feet are also getting larger with the average now a size 9!!! Socially and physically we seem to be growing closer - good or bad?? who knows. just enjoy yourself.
Love, Deborah

[Beauty]

The twins strike again!

Well, I did hear on a radio talk show that designers are changing sizes to make women feel like they are ordering smaller.

A 12 will now be for a much larger frame than last year.

I heard it was to make women feel less guilty about saying what dress size they are..

I don't get it, but if it sells, it sells.

Beauty

[Julie M.]

Don't know if this article will help you young lady?!, but I posted this info that I got from the May issue of Glamour. In 1991, women in their 20's weighted, on average 142 pounds - now its 155. Those in their 30's averaged 154 and now 167. My point being that GG's are getting bigger and as I heard on the John Boy and Billy Show this morning (Don't even ask!!!) that women's feet are also getting larger with the average now a size 9!!! Socially and physically we seem to be growing closer - good or bad?? who knows. just enjoy yourself.
Love, Deborah

Deborah,

"Young lady", ooh, I like that! You can call me anytime!

Yes, I read your previous post and I have heard that high-end designer clothes manufacturers have been doing that for years. What I didn't know is if it had made it into the mainstream clothing. Apparently it has.

Love,
Julie

[Jadeanne]

Hi all,

I will only be entering my 2nd year of femme dressing, but I noticed that 2 new size 3x Jaqueline Smith boned waist cinchers (1 white, 1 black) are larger than the ones I bought a year and a half ago (exact same style numbers).

I thought that the old ones (a thinking blonde - uh oh ) would be a little stretched out from wear (probably almost 3 times a week for a few hours each wearing) but it's the newer ones that are just a bit larger. We don't have a clothes dryer, so that's not a factor.

Maybe the true sizes ARE increasing while the label size remains the same.

Jadeanne

[Alana]

I believe tag sizes are the same, but I believe actual sizes are larger. In the '70s I struggled to get into size 9 corduroy jeans that I had bought. This year I bought some Faded Glory stretch jeans in an 8 petite. They fit nicely. I know I have gained several pounds and inches over the years. Also, several skirts that I have tried on lately were 9s and 10s. They also fit well. Some Old Navy cords in 11 were pretty loose.

Also, I believe I saw something on the news about women's clothing sizes becoming larger while the tag size stays the same. Jay Leno has used this fact in his monologue.

[Jaye]

I think that sizes differ somewhat between manufacturers, as well. I bought a pair of size 14 Lee Rider stretch jeans, and they are snug but comfortable. From another store I picked up a pair of Versailles stretch slacks, and they are loose to the point of falling off of my padded hips.

[Anita]

Hi Julie--
This has been a puzzler for me from the begining, so I can't help you out now! There has never been much consistency in the labels, and store try-ons are the only way to go. I find that a size 10 is usually my starting point, and I go up or down from what I find there. And even worse are the "small," "large," and "1x" kind of labels--they can mean anything! I hold them up next to me and see which one looks closest to fitting. Then I arm myself with several sizes and head for the fitting rooms.

There are times when I just don't want to deal with trying on, for various reasons, and I just bring them home. It's usually been a waste of my time.

[Stephanie H]

Ladies:
I too have found that sizes have "grown".
I was at one point in time between 16 nd 18 in a womens skirt depending on style and cut in a skirt and a 2x in a blouse.
Now, I now fit into a misses 16 skirt and a 16 blouse or 1x blouse.
The staff at the store indicated to me that a 16 misses is now a 14 womens and a 16 blouse is on the back side of a 1x where it origionally had been on the front side of that size measurement.
It feels nice to be in a smaller size but I must be careful when shopping so as not to purchase something that is out of character for me because the misses styles are a little more shapped that womens.
I will check Lord and Taylors to see if there sizing has changed.
As I have larger feet, 10.5 and womens 12, I have not noticed anything in shoe size changes.

[Kendra Lynn]

Hello all: I've discovered that sizes in women's clothing vary considerably.
Here's a great example: I was at a GAP store Sunday and tried on 1X coats that did not fit.
But I noticed some cute hooded sweaters with zippers on a side rack. I tried one of the 1X sweaters on and it fit perfectly!! Naturally, I bought two!! (different colors, of course).
Size 16 skirts in some styles will fit fine, and in others even an 18 is tight. Depends on the style: cut, fabric, etc. etc.
Yes, it's best to try things on at the store, but that is not always easy or possible. Some times you just have to take a chance-- most stores will at least give you store redit for returns.
Dresses are more difficult to judge without trying on.
And I haven't seen too many that I really like-- they're either too long or too short; too overly stylish or too frumpy.
I'll say it again-- amusing for someone who basicly has hippie-ish values-- the drag style that seems to look best on me is sorta "preppy"-- sweater and pleated skirt combos-- they just look right on me (and I'll admit I always liked that look on gg's too...)
It's great to have a spot to discuss these topics.
Peace'n'luv to all-- Kendra Lynn.

[Marlena Dahlstrom]

Women's sizing is notoriously variable. Theoretically there are "standard" sizes but for whatever reasons almost no on uses them. Some brands use "vanity sizing" which allows their customers to feel they're a size smaller than they really are.

And yes, sizes have grown larger as the average weight of women has gotten heavier. To my knowledge shoe sizes haven't changed.

To be fair, women's bodies are more complex to fit, so sizing will always be more complicated than me'ns. Which is why it's critical to try stuff on. The good news is particular brands tend to be consistent, so once you've figured out how they fit, I've found you buy stuff from the web with good odds that it will fit.

[Anita]

OK, I realized that I was not answering the question in a helpful way. Most of us have seen that women's labeling is not consistent, at all, and several of us wrote of it here. But Julie's saying that she's noticed one consistency, and that is a tendency to make each size larger than it traditionally was. That may be, as several here seem to notice it, too. While I look often enough, I can't say I've done enough shopping in the last year to say yes or no. The last dress I bought has no label size at all.